University:
Liberty University
Course:
BIOM 500 | Introduction to Biomedical Sciences
Academic year:

2024
Views:

447

Pages:

5
Author:

Sheha A.

Care of patients with Dysphagia Eliminate distractive stimuli. Position the patient upright. Ensure the patient is alert. Choose foods which affect the ease of swallowing, which affects the speed of food being eaten. Because this patient is a stroke patient, precautions need to be taken to ensure the patient is not too tired to eat. The patient needs to have small, frequent meals and fluids. Foods can be an easy face the patient can eat and swallow without choking. On eating, adaptive and swallowing strategies can be used to make the process easier. The patient should be encouraged to take small bites and to chew food thoroughly. Mouth moisture is important to flow the food down the throat. The patient should be encouraged to take small sips of fluid between bites to help swallow the food. The patient should be encouraged to take small, frequent meals and fluids. Foods that are too hot or too cold can stimulate the swallowing reflex. The patient should be encouraged to take small bites and to chew food thoroughly. Foods that are too hard or too dry can be difficult to swallow. Dysphagia Types There are three types of dysphagia, classified on the basis of where the problem is occurring. Oral Dysphagia Pharyngeal Dysphagia Esophageal Dysphagia Oral Dysphagia Causes: Difficulty in chewing Pocketing of food in the cheeks Difficulty initiating swallowing Food sticking to the throat Difficulties: Initiating swallowing Food sticking to the throat Pharyngeal Dysphagia Causes: Difficulty coordinating the swallowing muscles Reduced sensation in the throat Delayed swallowing reflex Difficulties: Difficulty moving food from the mouth to the esophagus Food sticking in the throat Coughing or choking while eating or drinking Esophageal Dysphagia Causes: Narrowing of the esophagus (stricture) Muscle weakness in the esophagus Esophageal cancer Difficulties: Difficulty moving food from the esophagus to the stomach Feeling of food sticking in the chest Heartburn or regurgitation **Oesophageal dysphagia** * **Causes:** * Weight loss * Retrosternal pain * Dysphagia to solids * Dysphagia to liquids * Dysphagia to both solids and liquids * Sense of obstruction * Sense of food sticking in the throat * Odynophagia * Weight loss * Anorexia * Dysphagia to solids * Dysphagia to liquids * Dysphagia to both solids and liquids * Sense of obstruction * Sense of food sticking in the throat * Odynophagia * Weight loss * Anorexia